Wasn’t it just a tram line once? The Oude Kinkerbrug stands before us a testament to Amsterdam’s ever-changing landscape. This isn’t just any bridge. It’s bridge number 169 a vital link between the Elandsgracht and Kinkerstraat spanning the Singelgracht. Its history is woven into the fabric of this city.
Originally built in 1890 by Willem Springer it was a sturdy iron girder bridge. Horse-drawn trams needed a strong crossing. Imagine the clip-clop of hooves echoing across the structure. By 1904 electric trams demanded even greater strength. The bridge was reinforced to handle the heavier load.
The Kinkerbuurt rapidly expanded. Soon a wider bridge was needed. The 1890 bridge was barely 10 meters wide. Cars had to navigate the tram tracks. It didn’t even align perfectly with Kinkerstraat. In 1948 renowned bridge architect Piet Kramer designed a replacement. It took six years for construction to begin.
The entire area was transformed alongside the bridge. A transformer house a gas control room a public urinal and a sewer vent appeared. The Singelgracht’s course was altered. The neighborhood adapted for the new Marnixstraat bus station. On April 18 1955 the old bridge closed. A temporary footbridge and cycle path served as an impromptu viewing platform for curious onlookers.
A funny incident occurred in early May 1956. De Waarheid newspaper reported a peculiar sight. The tram tracks and asphalt were laid. The bridge wasn’t open for vehicles yet. The roadway was still incomplete. Cyclists however found a convenient shortcut. They used the asphalt instead of the temporary bridge. On May 26 1956 trams resumed their routes.
The bridge is named after Kinkerstraat. The street honors Johannes Kinker a writer. The “Oude” prefix distinguishes it from the Kinkerbrug at the other end of Kinkerstraat. The bridges’ ages have swapped places over the years. The first Oude Kinkerbrug was built in 1890 the Kinkerbrug in 1913. The Kinkerbrug was renewed in 1936 the Oude Kinkerbrug in 1956. A major renovation of the Kinkerbrug in 2003 restored the original age order.
Kramer’s design is Amsterdam School style. He used brick and natural stone. Ornamental wrought iron balustrades were included. A small terrace sits near the bus station cleverly hidden behind a building. It lacks a bridgekeeper’s house and Hildo Krop sculptures. Four granite columns stand instead. Money ran out it’s believed. In 1987 Ton Kalle added four circular artworks atop the columns.
The Oude Kinkerbrug a quiet witness to Amsterdam’s growth. It quietly connects past and present. It’s more than just a way to cross the canal. It’s a part of the city’s soul.